News from Care Wisconsin

March 26, 2008

Family Care Opens in Columbia County,
Benefits Frail Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

Community leaders, advocates and service providers gathered today in Portage to celebrate a milestone in the state’s long-term care redesign, the opening of Family Care in Columbia County. Hundreds of frail seniors and adults with disabilities now have more choices and improved access to needed health and long-term care services.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony also marked the opening of Care Wisconsin’s care team offices at 2425 New Pinery Road, Portage. Care Wisconsin is the Care Management Organization (CMO) contracted with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) to manage the two Family Care programs—Family Care and Partnership—in the county.

“We are proud to be part of Family Care in Columbia County,” says Karen Musser, CEO of Care Wisconsin. “This is a positive step forward to ensuring that frail seniors, adults with developmental disabilities and adults with physical disabilities get access to quality services when they need them and don’t sit on a waitlist for years.”

Musser also recognized the collaborative relationship between DHFS, Columbia County Health and Human Services and the nonprofit Care Wisconsin through the Family Partnership Care Management Coalition. The coalition represents 12 counties in the central region and, as of this month, has implemented Family Care in Columbia, Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties.

Kevin Hayden, Secretary of DHFS, spoke about the state’s history of managed long-term care and progress made since 2006 when Governor Jim Doyle announced his goal to expand Family Care statewide, eliminate waitlists for community-based care, and promote the integration of health and long-term care services over the next five years.

Hayden leads the Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care, which is charged with overseeing Family Care expansion, effectiveness and quality of services. In 2010, Family Care will become an entitlement.

“We have already taken 17 people off the waitlist within the first two months,” says Dennis Wittig, Director of the Columbia County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). The ADRC is the point of entry where options counselors walk consumers through their different choices, determine eligibility and process enrollment.

When Family Care opened March 1 in Columbia County, there were 233 people on the waitlist who were eligible. This compares to 11,500 people on waitlists for community-based care statewide.

“Under the old system, people could wait several years or more for needed services,” says Wittig as he points out at least one county resident has been on the waitlist since 1996.

ADRC staff and Care Wisconsin have been working closely together for months to help smooth the transition and make information available to consumers and service providers. ADRC staff began options counseling in January with the targeted 250 people in Medicaid waiver programs, known as the Community Options Program (COP) and Community Integration Program (CIP), to be transitioned to Family Care.

Care Wisconsin’s care teams are already coordinating services with local providers for almost 100 Columbia County residents who have voluntarily enrolled in Family Care. By year end, Care Wisconsin anticipates the number to grow to approximately 450 enrollments.

Family Care Program Choice
“Drawing from over 32 years of experience in long-term care and managing complex programs, Care Wisconsin understands the importance of offering flexible programs that respect individual choices,” says Musser.

In Columbia County, consumers have the choice between two care management programs: Family Care and Partnership.

The basic Family Care program includes all long-term care services available through home and community-based waiver programs, and some Medicaid services. Services include in-home personal care, adult day care, medical equipment, assisted living, transportation and help with employment.

The enhanced Partnership program covers all services in the basic Family Care program, plus offers one-stop shopping for Medicare-covered health and medical services, and prescription drugs. Additional services include physician care, dental services and hospital care.

At the core of both programs is a member-centered approach to care and the extra support of a care team. “Our focus is on total well-being, prevention and early intervention to maintain independence and quality of life,” says Musser.

Care teams include the member and an array of caring staff, such as a care manager/social worker, registered nurse and/or nurse practitioner. Together, members and their care teams create personalized service plans, designed to be flexible and help members achieve goals. Members also have the option to self direct some or all of their services, including selecting hands-on care providers.

Care Wisconsin plans to rollout and manage Family Care in seven other counties, including Dodge, Green Lake, Jefferson, Marquette, Washington, Waukesha and Waushara, in 2008.

For more information about Family Care in Columbia County, call toll-free 1-888-742-9233 or visit the ADRC at 2652 Murphy Road, Portage.

For more information about Care Wisconsin, call (608) 742-8900 or toll-free 1-866-561-2682, or visit its office at 2425 New Pinery Road, Portage.

Photos
Photo 1: (l-r) Kevin Hayden, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services; Erik Pritzl, Director of Columbia County Health and Human Services; Karen Musser, CEO of Care Wisconsin; and Dennis Wittig, Director of Columbia County Aging and Disability Resource Center.

Photo 2: (l-r) Kevin Hayden, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services; Karen Musser, CEO of Care Wisconsin; and Judith Frye, Director, Wisconsin Bureau of Long Term Support.

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